Wandsworth Council relocates families from Colliers Wood tower over heat risks

Wandsworth Council is removing four temporary accommodation households from Britannia Point, a 19-storey tower block in Colliers Wood, after residents reported dangerous heat levels. The decision follows complaints that air conditioning units were either faulty or inaccessible, with some flats reaching 37°C during the recent heatwave.

Sabrina Walters, a 31-year-old mother of two placed at Britannia Point by Wandsworth Council, said her air conditioning unit became stuck at 24°C. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the heat was worst in the bedrooms where her one-year-old and seven-year-old sleep. The LDRS observed the unit remained fixed at 24°C despite her attempts to adjust it.

Read Next in News London4 min read

Councils to withdraw tenants from Colliers Wood tower

Wandsworth and Sutton are moving residents out of the Criterion Capital building following disputes over air conditioning access during heatwaves.

Management denies restricting air conditioning

Aura Asset Management Limited, which manages Britannia Point, said the air conditioning systems were fully operational and available to all residents, including those in temporary accommodation. The company told the LDRS that residents are responsible for the electricity costs of running the units and that it had never instructed anyone not to use them.

Aura added that all residents and local authorities are informed before moving in that air conditioning is an optional service. The company said it had not received any reports of residents becoming seriously ill due to the heat but encouraged anyone with concerns to contact them directly.

Related Borough Coverage4 min read

Air conditioning disabled for temporary accommodation tenants in Colliers Wood

Residents in the Criterion Capital-owned Britannia Point tower report extreme indoor temperatures despite having installed cooling equipment.

Air conditioning in that building is not an amenity, it is essential. Criterion Capital need to urgently explain how the air conditioning was ever turned off in their building during a heatwave for vulnerable families.

Stuart Neaverson, Merton Labour councillor

Other councils continue placements

While Wandsworth Council is relocating its households, other councils are still placing residents at Britannia Point. Croydon Council said it had carried out welfare checks and was told by Criterion Capital that the air conditioning was now switched on. Sutton Council, which has 13 households at the tower, said it was "very concerned" about the reports and had contacted Aura Asset Management.

Merton Council does not currently house any residents at Britannia Point. Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh and Merton councillor Stuart Neaverson have been working with residents to address the issue. Neaverson praised Wandsworth Council’s decision to remove its families but called on other councils to follow suit immediately.

What happens next

Wandsworth Council said it is working to secure alternative accommodation for the four households being moved from Britannia Point. The council told the LDRS that the welfare of residents was its priority.

It is unclear whether other councils will follow Wandsworth’s lead. Croydon and Sutton councils have not announced plans to relocate their residents. Aura Asset Management said it continues to monitor the situation and encourages residents to report any issues directly.